Peripheral neuropathy caused by taxanes and overall quality of life in breast cancer patients

Section: Originals

How to quote

Rosich Soteras A, Rodríguez García AB, Paré Brunet L, Serrahima Mackay A. Neuropatía periférica producida por taxanos y calidad de vida global en pacientes con cáncer de mama. Metas Enferm abr 2018; 21(3):67-73.

Authors

Arianna Rosich Soteras1, Ana Belén Rodríguez García2, Laia Paré Brunet3, Anna Serrahima Mackay4

Position

1Enfermera. Institut Clínic de Malalties Hematològiques i Oncològiques (ICMHO). Hospital Clínic de Barcelona2Máster en Enfermería en Urgencias. Universidad de Barcelona. ICMHO. Hospital Clínic de Barcelona3Doctora en Bioquímica, Biología molecular y Biomedicina. Universidad Autónoma de Barcelona. Departamento de Oncología médica. Hospital Clínic de Barcelona4Máster en Enfermo Crítico y Emergencias. Universidad de Barcelona. ICMHO. Hospital Clínic de Barcelona

Contact address

Arianna Rosich Soteras. Hospital Clínic. C/ Villarroel, 170. 08036 Barcelona.

Contact email: rosich@clinic.ub.es

Abstract

Objective: to determine the incidence and evolution of taxane-induced peripheral neuropathy (TIPN) in breast cancer patients, and to assess the influence of TIPN on overall quality of life (QoL).

Method: a prospective longitudinal descriptive study conducted at the Oncology Unit of the Hospital Clínic de Barcelona (July, 2015- April, 2016). The study included women with diagnosis of breast cancer, on their first line of treatment with chemotherapy (paclitaxel or docetaxel); neurotoxicity and quality of life were evaluated through three self-reported questionnaires validated at baseline, at 6 and 12 weeks, and one month after completing treatment.

Results: the study included 33 patients; 84.4% of them had developed some degree of PN at the end of follow-up. There was a statistically significant worsening in neurotoxicity with dose accumulation until the end of the treatment, and it remained stable one month after the last administration (p< 0.001). There was a statistically significant increase in sensitive neuropathy throughout follow-up (p< 0.001); also in terms of involvement in motor sensitivity, except in the final measurement (p< 0-005). A positive correlation was observed between neurotoxicity and QoL deterioration (r= 0.609 (p<0.0001)).

Conclusions: TIPN is a side effect with high incidence among the population studied of women with breast cancer, and it causes a negative impact on patient-perceived QoL. Oncology nurses are the key professionals for the prevention and management of this side effect.

Keywords:

Taxane-induced peripheral neuropathy; quality of life; taxoids; neuropathy; neurotoxicity syndromes; measurement of patient-reported results; symptom control; longitudinal descriptive study; longitudinal descriptive study

Versión en Español

Título:

Neuropatía periférica producida por taxanos y calidad de vida global en pacientes con cáncer de mama